Structural members with preformed concrete reinforcing devices



16- VINE.

[ 1-O5'97. GR 304009507 EX if; M I. Sept. 10, 1968 c. M. MacCHESNEY 3,400,507 X Q1]; STRUCTURAL MEMBERS WITH PREFOHMED CONCRETE REINFORCING DEVICES Filed Sept. 12, 1966 jQl/ INVENTOR CHESTER M. MOCCHESNEY ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,400,507 STRUCTURAL MEMBERS WITH PREFORMED CONCRETE REINFORCING DEVICES Chester M. MacChesney, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Ellamac Incorporated, Chicago, III., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 578,620 7 Claims. (Cl. 52-659) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed a strucutral member including a concrete mass having a plurality of individual reinforcing devices suspended in and distributed through the concrete mass; the reinforcing devices are of preformed construc tion and each comprises an elongated metal rod carrying a cement body enveloping the intermediate portion thereof and firmly adhered thereto, the cement body being in spool form with alternate areas of lesser and greater diameters and being formed essentially of set-up Portland cement.

The present invention relates to structural members, and more particularly to such members formed essentially of a mass of concrete and a plurality of individual reinforcing devices suspended therein and distributedtherethrough, wherein the reinforcing devices are substantially identical and each of improved construction and arrangement. 1

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved structural member of the character noted, wherein each of the reinforcing devices is of preformed construction and comprises an elongated metal rod and a cement body enveloping the intermediate portion of the rod and firmly adhered thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved reinforcing device of the character noted that is prefabricated from scrap material obtained from a rod or strap mill, whereby the rod or strap incorporated into the device has any suitable cross-section, as may be obtained by chance from the mill, such, for example, as a square, a circle, an oval, a rectangle, etc., and corresponding to any shape normally produced at the mill.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the structural member, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a structural member in the form of a block and comprising a concrete mass embedding a plurality of individual reinforcing devices and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a reduced fragmentary sectional view of another structural member in the form of a wall and an arch and also embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of one of the individual reinforcing devices of the construction and arrangement as incorporated in the structural members noted.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the structural member there illustrated and embodying the features of the present invention, is in the form of a block that comprises a concrete mass 11, and a plurality of individual reinforcing devices 30 suspended in and distributed through the concrete mass 11. Each of the reinforcing devices 30 is of preformed construction and of elongated 3,400,507 Patented Sept. 10, 1968 form; and in the concrete mass 11 the axes of the reinforcing devices 30 are directionally distributed at random, so as completely to reinforce and thoroughly to interlock all parts of the concrete mass 11.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the structural member 20 there illustrated is in the form of a wall and arch section that comprises a concrete mass 21, and a plurality of the individual reinforcing devices 30 suspended in and distributed through the concrete mass 21. Each of the reinforcing devices 30 is of preformed construction and of elongated form; and in the concrete mass 21, the axes of the reinforcing devices 30 are directionally distributed at random, so as completely to reinforce and thoroughly to interlock all parts of the concrete mass 21.

Referring now to FIG. 3 each of the reinforcing devices 30 is of preformed construction and comprises an elongated metal rod 31, and a cement body 32 enveloping and embedding the intermediate portion of the rod 31 and firmly adhered thereto. The rod 31 may have any convenient lateral cross-section, since it is preferably formed of scrap material obtained from a rod or strap mill, and is ordinarily formed of steel. Specifically, scrap rod or strap stock obtained from a mill is cut into suitable lengths to form the rods 31; the rods 31 are placed into suitable molds; and the cement bodies 32 are respectively cast upon the intermediate portions of the rods 31. As illustrated, the body 32 is of spool-like configuration since this geometry provides great interlocking effects to the adjacent volumes or portions of the embedding concrete masses 11 or 21 in the respective structures 10 and 20. Preferably, the body 32 is formed of neat cement that consists essentially of Portland cement that has been set-up with water, and without any content of aggregate. However, if desired, the body may be formed of mortar and consists essentially of Portland cement and fine aggregate (sand) that has been set up with water, and

Parts Portland cement 1 Sand 2 Gravel 4 Suitable quantity of water.

Ordinarily, about 6 gallons of water are mixed with each pounds of these dry ingredients after thorough I mixing thereof.

Returning to the construction of the reinforcing device 30, the rod 31 has a variable configuration depending upon the character of the scrap rod or strap obtained from the mill and employed in the manufacture of the reinforcing device 30; whereby the lateral cross-section of the rod may be square, circular, rectangular, etc., in an obvious manner.

In a constructional example of the reinforcing device 30, the rod 31 is formed of V square coldrolled steel stock, and has an overall length of about 7%". The body 32 has a maximum diameter of about 1" and a minimum diameter of about and an overall length of about 2% In this example, the body 32 is formed of. neat cement, as noted above.

This construction and arrangement of the reinforcing device 30 is very advantageous by virtue of the fact that the same permits of the production of concrete by treating the reinforcing devices 30 as a part of the coarse aggregatee, along with the gravel. In other words, in producing the concrete that is employed in casting the masses 11 and 21, the reinforcing devices 30 and the gravel are treated commonly as coarse aggregate; and the proportion thereof by volume is treated entirely as a matter of predetermining the desired reinforcement of the concrete. Ordinarily, the coarse aggregate may comprise the reinforcing devices 30 and gravel in a proportion of about 50%50% by volume. However, this ratio may be appropriately varied depending upon the desired reinforcement of the set-up concrete in the structures and 20.

Further, this construction and arrangement of the preformed reinforcing devices 30 is very advantageous, since there is no substantial settling-down of the reinforcing devices 30 in the poured concrete of the masses 11 and 12 prior to setting-up thereof. This advantage permits of the direct pouring of the mixed concrete into the forms without danger of settling-down of the reinforcing devices 30 dispersed through the mixed concrete; whereby the reinforcing devices 30 are suitably distributed through the masses 11 and 21 after settingup of the concrete. This advantage of the construction of the reinforcing devices 30 results from the facts that the overall specific gravity of the reinforcing device 30 is not materially greater than that of the fluid ingredients of the poured concrete, and that the body 32 of the reinforcing device 30 acts as a buoy therefor in the fluid ingredients of the poured concrete since the specific gravity of the body 32 is somewhat less than that of the fluid ingredients of the poured concrete. Furthermore, the configuration of the body 32 prevents any material turning or orienting of the axis of the rod 31 in the poured concrete with the result that upon setting-up of the poured concrete the axes of the rods 31 are directionally distributed at random through the concrete masses 11 and 21, whereby the reinforcement of the structures 10 and is highly uniform and altogether satisfactory.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a reinforced structural member consisting essentially of a concrete mass and a plurality of short sections of steel bars or straps suspended in and substantially uniformly distributed through the concrete mass.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a structural member including a concrete mass, and a plurality of individual reinforcing devices suspended in and distributed through said concrete mass; the

combination wherein each of said reinforcing devices is of preformed construction and comprises an elongated metal rod and a cement body enveloping the intermediate portion of said metal rod and firmly adhered thereto, said body being of generally spool-type configuration and including alternate areas of lesser and greater diameters along said rod.

2. The structural member set forth in claim 1, wherein the axes of said rods are directionally distributed at random throughout said concrete mass.

3. The structural member set forth in claim 1, wherein said metal rod is formed essentially of steel, and said cement body is formed essentially of set-up Portland cement.

4. The structural member set forth in claim 1, wherein the overall specific gravity of said reinforcing devices is not materially greater than that of the fluid ingredients of the poured concrete from which said concrete mass is formed.

5. A reinforcing device for incorporation in a structural member including a concrete mass and a plurality of the reinforcing devices suspended in and distributed throughout the concrete mass, the reinforcing device comprising an elongated metal rod, and a cement body enveloping the intermediate portion of said metal rod and firmly adhered thereto, said body being of generally spool-type configuration and including alternate areas of lesser and greater diameters along said rod.

6. The reinforcing device set forth in claim 5, wherein said metal rod is formed essentially of steel and said cement body is formed essentially of set-up Portland cement.

7. The reinforcing device set forth in claim 5, wherein the overall specific gravity of said reinforcing device is not materially greater than that of the fluid ingredients from which the associated concrete mass is formed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,308,306 7/1919 Stewart S2587 X 1,350,335 8/1920 Reed 52-688 1,976,832 10/1934 Brown 52--659 2,677,955 5/1954 Constantinesco 52-659 FOREIGN PATENTS 538,089 3/ 1922 France.

693,287 6/1953 Great Britain.

743,129 1/1956 Great Britain.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner.

ALFRED C. PERHAM, Assistant Examiner. 

